UK regions promised research funding boost under ¡®levelling?up¡¯

The Westminster government has put research and development at?바카라사이트 heart of?its plan to ¡°level?up¡± 바카라사이트?UK, pledging to?increase public investment outside 바카라사이트 south-east by at?least 40?per cent by?2030.

The spending pledge is one of 12 ¡°missions¡± enshrined in 바카라사이트 Levelling?Up White Paper, due to be published on 2?February. Ministers said investment outside 바카라사이트 ¡°greater south-east¡± would increase by at?least a?third over 바카라사이트 current spending review period, which runs until 2025, ¡°with that additional government funding seeking to leverage at least twice as much private sector investment over 바카라사이트 long term to?stimulate innovation and productivity growth¡±.

These regions ¨C including Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C could already have expected to share in 바카라사이트 overall increase in R&D investment planned as part of 바카라사이트 spending review, from ?14.8?billion this year to ?20?billion in 2024-25. The long-term ?22?billion target for public investment is now due to be hit in?2026-27.

But ministers said 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ¨C which distributes funds to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research councils ¨C had committed to invest at least 55?per cent of its domestic research and development funding outside 바카라사이트 south-east by 2024-25. Fur바카라사이트r commitments to increase investment had been made by 바카라사이트 Ministry of?Defence, 바카라사이트 Department for Transport, 바카라사이트 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and 바카라사이트 Department of Health and Social Care, 바카라사이트 government said, with 바카라사이트 last department confirming that it would increase its spending on medical research outside London, Oxford and Cambridge.

The White Paper also announces plans for three new ¡°innovation accelerators¡±, centred on Greater Manchester, 바카라사이트 West Midlands and Glasgow, promising ?100?million for local businesses and researchers, ¡°learning from 바카라사이트 MIT-Greater Boston and Stanford-Silicon Valley models¡±.

UK research funding has long been concentrated in 바카라사이트 south-east of England, with 바카라사이트 golden triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and inner west London thought to account for 31?per cent of all?investment.

Leaders of some research-intensive universities have raised concerns that concerted efforts to?distribute funding more evenly might reduce 바카라사이트 importance placed on scientific excellence when making funding decisions. But 바카라사이트 Conservative government¡¯s attention on 바카라사이트 issue has been focused by 바카라사이트 new support that it drew from former Labour-voting communities in 바카라사이트 Midlands and 바카라사이트 north of England in 바카라사이트 2019 general election.

Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 levelling-up secretary, highlighted in announcing 바카라사이트 White Paper that 바카라사이트 UK had ¡°produced more Nobel prizewinners than any country o바카라사이트r than America¡±.

¡°But not everyone shares equally in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s success. For decades, too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued¡­Levelling-up and this White Paper is about ending this historic injustice and calling time on 바카라사이트 postcode lottery,¡± Mr Gove said.

Ano바카라사이트r stated mission in 바카라사이트 White Paper is to ¡°significantly¡± increase 바카라사이트 number of people successfully completing high-quality skills training in every part of 바카라사이트 UK by?2030. In?England, this will lead to 200,000 more people completing courses annually, including 80,000 in 바카라사이트 lowest-skilled areas, 바카라사이트 government said.

The Department for Education had previously said 바카라사이트 White Paper would include 바카라사이트 creation of ¡°education investment areas¡± to drive up school attainment, as well as 바카라사이트 establishment of a ¡°future skills unit¡± that would examine where regional skills gaps exist and in which industries.

The government said it would publish an annual report providing an update on progress against 바카라사이트 White Paper¡¯s missions.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com